jays83gsl

But the general automotive section is scary and full of third gen types!

Move it there if you wish, but I'm sure people here can help me just as good, if not better (you're my first gen bruthas from othas ******!)

I have an 87 Mazda 323 with a 4 speed (called a GLC in other places, I think)

I'm sure this kind of thing applies to ANYTHING with a standard tranny:

I was out cruising. I went to shift into third or fourth (can't remember.) It didn't shift in.

I parked it in the next safe place, and tried starting it from a standstill. It wouldn't go into gear. First thing I thought: blown tranny. But, I can hear it shifting the gears when I move the shifter. Second thing: I can move the shifter without putting the clutch in.

Strange, though, that I can feel the 'grab' point of the clutch!? I dunno, but I would appreciate any help you fellows can give a guy in need.

Peace,

Jay

DAVID GRIMES

throwout bearing failed open ?

jays83gsl

How do I check/fix that? I'm still pretty much a newb when it comes to standards.

nevarmore

Check the fluids. I'm not kidding, its cheap and its simple and it might be the problem.

jays83gsl

That may sound simple, but for the life of me, I can't find the clutch cylinder (sp?)

Found the brake. . . .

A little more detail: The tranny is definately going through the gears. The clutch MOVES the linkage.

I just hope I don't need a new clutch. All the places around here want to charge me more than $300 dollars to put the new one in, and that's just not an option right now

shadowlife25

Check your fluids. If you have a leak down there, it could very well cause your tranny to not operate as it is supposed to.
1. Does it go through all the gears with the engine running?
2. Does the not having to engage the clutch pedal symptom also occur while running?
3. Do the gears not go in at all, or are they just very difficult to shift into?
4. With the vehicle OFF, see if you can shift into ALL gears. if so, a possible solution is the pilot bearing and seal.

Keep in mind that these are just simple tests to do while the transmission is still IN the vehicle.
Also these are assuming that you have checked fluid levels on both the transmission and the clutch master cylinder, and that you have no known leaks.

jays83gsl

There's no leaks AT ALL on the car.

The gears go into place easily, car on or off. Just as easily as a brand new car's tranny (silky smooth).

The gears don't engage into the gear. That's the best way to explain it. When I shift into position (and can hear the 'click' of the gear shifting) it acts as though it's in nuetral still. As in, it revs freely, rolls back on hills. . . .

This is so frustrating.

Thanks again.

shadowlife25

Is there a possibility that you have snapped the linkage itself ? ( the part thats at the end of the tranny housing?)

jays83gsl

I'm pretty sure it's all attatched. I can follow it all the way to the big box that houses the transaxle. Not sure where it goes from there. . .

jays83gsl

Bump for my poor little econoMaz (which is about to get beat to within an inch of it's life if I can't figure this out for cheaper than six hundred bucks)

lovintha7

mabye the clutch took a dump...if you can put it into gear, and let the clutch out, it most likely the clutch. make sure to change the throwout bearing, and pilot bearing if you end up going that route.

jays83gsl

Thanks for all of your advise, but it was inevitable. I decided to tow it to a tranny shop, and sure enough, it was the clutch.

A $600 dollar repair (probably could've gotten another one for that price, but I'm already attatched to it!). . .
*sigh* that was RX7 money

Bob78rx7

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. But the same exact thing happened to me a few weeks ago on my 7. Yeah, it is definately the clutch. But, it shouldn't have cost you $600. Brand new Master and Slave Clynders for a 78 seven cost me about a hundred bucks. Although, I don't need to pay for labor.

jays83gsl

Well, they're doing the usual and charging me out the *** for labour. That and I'm getting the CV's replaced at the same time.

I know how to do it, and I'm more than capable, I just don't have the tools right now!

Peace

mcnannay

man why didn't you just junk the thing and drive your seven?

jays83gsl

Because the seven gets around six miles to the gallon, whereas the 323 gets around a million. That and I'm not afraid to run the 323 on the local dirt race

680RWHP12A

bad clutch, it just happened to me truck, clutch is dead, wont release, dont have time to fix it.. its a 90 mitsubishi truck for refrence

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

lol

jays83gsl

And, hey, you know the 323 is a mad pimp ride, yo.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

nice. I got a 323 also - the area code.

Rogue_Wulff

Few years back, I had an old Ford truck that had a slipping clutch. It would not pull a hill that was covered with snow, even with bald rear tires. Finally got it to the shop to replace the clutch, and left it sitting in the drive (also covered with snow) running while they opened the door to the shop. I thought I could get it to pull itself into the shop, until I went to get back in, and realized I had left it in gear, idling, for over 5 minutes. An hour later, the flywheel was still rather warm, for some odd reason.........................

jays83gsl

Okay, can someone tell me how a clutch works? I'm completely unaware of this (all I know is it has something to do with the flywheel).

That or give me a link, or call me a no0b, or whatever ;D

Max7

My first mazda was a GLC header, strait pipe, hotter spark, oh the good ole dayz......

jays83gsl

Aren't they fun as hell for such a weak little car? Mine has . . . . a CD player. . . . which isn't installed. Oh, and scrape plates. And a custom "duct taped" exhaust (damn Mexican that owned it before me.)

That and it smells like RX7 because it shares a yard with Rexie, who I started for the first time since winter yesterday.

jays83gsl

BTW: There's a guy on the 323 forum with a BP 12 A in his. I've GOT to learn how to do that swap!